Iraqi MPs: Turkey's operation of Ilisu Dam on Tigris River threatens water security in Iraq

The Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Affairs, Bakr Bakadmirieli, announced, in a statement, that his country began generating electricity from the Ilisu Dam station on Wednesday with its maximum capacity on the Tigris River, which increased Iraqi fears of its impact on the country's share of the region's water.

He added in a statement that the power plant in Ilisu Dam, located in Mardin, Bakur Kurdistan, is the fourth largest in Turkey, noting that the first turbine in the station was put into operation last May.

The statement indicated that the station has started operating at its maximum capacity, with all existing turbines, numbering 6, operational as of December 23, and pointed out that the station will contribute to supporting the country's economy by 2.8 billion Turkish liras annually, equivalent to about 365 million dollars.

For his part, Iraqi MPs criticized on Friday Turkey’s denial of its commitment not to fill the Ilisu Dam on the Tigris River, stressing that the operation of the dam threatens Iraq's water security.

Of note, the dam, which was approved by the Turkish government in 1997 in order to generate electricity for the region, was the cause of the displacement of about 80 thousand people from 199 villages.

Activists warned of the danger of the dam on Iraqi agriculture, as well as causing millions of residents to thirst after years of stopping and delay.

Since 2017, the water shortage in Iraq has led to measures such as banning the cultivation of rice and pushing farmers to abandon their lands, and Basra has witnessed months-long protests due to the lack of safe drinking water.

The Ilisu Dam is one of the largest dams built on the Tigris River, with a length of 1820 meters, a height of 135 meters and two kilometers width, and its basin area is estimated at 300 square kilometers.

It is reported that Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi visited the Turkish capital, Ankara, to hold talks with Erdogan on several issues, including the water problem between the two countries.

J.O